Catering By Robert . Event Concepts : Family Heirlooms Create a True Vintage Wedding

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Family Heirlooms Create a True Vintage Wedding

Carole and Jerry

Sorosis Building, Lakeland

While most couples have to search every where for unique items to fill their tables with trendy vintage features, our March client, Carole, had no problem with supplying literally hundreds of handmade pieces collected by she and her fiance Jerry over the years. Heirloom napkins (one for each guest), antique vases, and dozens of lace overlays were just a few of components that created an authentic vintage-styled celebration at the Sorosis Building in Lakeland.

Carole was one of the most interesting clients I have ever had. Even though we had a short planning time, she was "on-spot" making trips from her home in Miami to see me whenever a meeting or site visit was needed. Carole chose Lakeland for the setting because it is her former home with family and friends still residing there.

Carole and Jerry have a "history" all their own as well. Even though they had known each other for over 35 years (since he was her teacher in high school), After she graduated they dated briefly then she moved away, got married and started a family. Jerry had always kept track of Carole via her brother. Six years ago, Jerry found out Carole had separated from her husband and they started dating again. An avid big game hunter, Jerry invited Carole to join him on safaris to South Africa. It was there that Carole said she fell in love with him.

During their visit to Cape Town (Jerry had never there in the 27 times he had visited Africa), they shared an amazing new experience together. It was there Jerry proposed to Carole. When Brazilian friends kept asking her when they should purchase plane tickets to the states, Carole set her date for the wedding.

The rest, as they say, is history!

Carole chose a pallet of champagne and ivory with a touch of gold for the wedding. The ceremony was held facing the front of the Sorosis. It was a breezy, but comfortable spring day with most of the 100+ guests standing to view the nuptials.

Surrounded mostly by close friends and family, the couple set off on a new journey together as husband and wife. During the social hour guests had plenty to do viewing the many antique-framed pictures and memorabilia Carole displayed in the Sorosis ante-room. One of Carole's sons supplied amazing home-brewed beer.

We supplemented Carole's lace cloths with many we had collected in our 29 years in the catering business.

Carole, who has an art-antiques businesses in Miami, brought a huge assortment of urns and vases that were filled with local fresh flowers and intermingled with candles on the fireplace, display and guest tables.

The building's plush vintage couch was neatly perched in front of the fireplace as an inviting place for guests to relax.

Carole was a frequent traveler to South America and introduced us to Cochinas, a potato appetizer. It was part of the hot and cold assortment of hand-passed hors d'oeuvres that also included caprese skewers, mini empanadas, seasonal fruit brochettes, and mini meatballs with pretzel handles,

Inside the ballroom, the main reception had a classic-elegant feel with our neutral floor-length linens topped with a variety of Carole's lace doilies and overlays. Each guest table had a unique look, but consistency with our self-tied champagne satin chair covers. Her 100+ collection of handkerchiefs dotted our gold charger plates. Urns held garden roses and hydrangea stems.

Ceremony florals were brought inside to embellish the sweetheart table also topped with one of Carole's favorite lace pieces and a vintage framed mirror cradling antique candle holders.

A Piece of Cake in Tampa designed a multi-layer wedding cake topped with garden roses.

Carole's embroidered handkerchief "tree" were set out along side flipflops for dancing. Besides the framed table numbers, she designed a number of informational signs for various displays throughout the reception.